2000 Ford Focus: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Aug 15, 2011 · Fuel system · 153,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. The contact stated while driving various speeds the vehicle would hesitate and fuel fumes were emitted into the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but offered no assistance since the vehicle was over the statute of limitation on the federal safety agency recall campaign number: 03v482000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 153,000.

Filed Mar 11, 2011 · Engine · 130,000 miles · OK

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. While driving approximately 25 MPH there was knocking sound coming in the engine. There was also hesitation while accelerating. The contact stated that the engine light also illuminated on the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic twice and the engine was replaced. The failure continued to occur after the vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage 130,000.

Filed Sep 28, 2010 · Fuel system · 90,500 miles · NC

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle would hesitate, stall and lose power while moving uphill and occasionally on a level surface. He had to restart the vehicle for it to function properly. The contact replaced and checked all components within the fuel system except for the fuel pump; however, the problem continued. The vehicle had not inspected or repaired. The contact called the manufacturer in reference to recall 03v482000 (fuel system, gasoline) and was informed that the vehicle was not included. The current mileage was approximately 91,000. The failure mileage was approximately 90,500.

Filed Sep 27, 2010 · Fuel system · 127,090 miles · RI

I noticed slight hesitation in my 2000 ford focus in june of 2009, and requested that my local ford dealership consider replacing the fuel sender and pump because this was a known internal ford campaign replacement part issue. They indicated because it was not a severe hesitation, they could not perform that work under the replacement campaign. This hesitation continued but very intermittently. Then in july 2010, I was driving with my wife and daughter in the above car, and attempted to get on interstate 95. The car began to have severe hesitation issues when I gassed it, and I was unable to get the car above ~ 35 MPH as cars swerved past me honking because I could not achieve highway speeds. I drove in the breakdown lane with flashers on and got off at the next exit and returned home via local roads with the symptoms still showing (severe hesitation). I brought the car to my local ford dealer. They diagnosed it as having the fuel sender and pump problem of the recall, but also indicated the cost was no longer covered by ford because ford had a ten year limit on replacement ! I would like to point out the dealership refused to change this faulty fuel assembly a year earlier (when it was still covered), yet now acknowledged the issue but required me to pay for repairing the problem, after having subjected my family to several near-accidents on the interstate due to this known severe safety issue. They indicated I could write to ford hq concerning the issue. I had the work done by the dealership because it had to be done. The problem now no longer occurs. I wrote to ford's customer relation center on aug 17, 2010, describing the above situation. I received a letter dated sept. 1, 2010, indicating that ford agreed with the dealership's decision, and would not cover the repairs because "limits must be placed on those efforts" to resolve such problems. I am angry they exposed my family to such danger yet refused to allow replacement prior to the issue and refuses to pay.

Filed Apr 28, 2010 · Engine, Fuel system · 93,000 miles · AR

Engine hesitation, loss of power and surging. I lost power and was escorted off the highway by a sheriff deputy .

Filed Aug 12, 2009 · Fuel system · 60,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle hesitated. The failure occurred intermittently and without warning. The vehicle stalled on two separate occasions. The fuel filter, spark plugs, and wiring were replaced. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on three or four separate occasions for identical failures, but they could not duplicate the failure. The VIN was excluded from the federal safety agency campaign id number 03v482000 (fuel system, gasoline), although the failures were identical. The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 93,000.

Filed Mar 18, 2009 · Fuel system · 145,150 miles · CO

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. While driving between 55-60 MPH, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The contact pulled over and opened the gas cap, which was difficult to open. When the cap was finally opened, there was a popping sound coming from the gas tank. The contact noticed that the temperature in the vehicle was warmer than normal. Ford stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number 03v482000 (fuel system, gasoline). The current mileage was 146,000 and failure mileage was 145,150.

Filed Sep 3, 2008 · Electrical, Engine · 73,450 miles · RI · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. While driving approximately 15 MPH, the contact smelled a burning odor in the vehicle. He pulled the vehicle over and opened the hood, but did not find any smoke. In addition, the coolant temperature was fine; however, he felt is was extremely hot under the hood. He entered the vehicle and noticed that the service engine light was illuminated on the instrument panel. He has not taken the vehicle to be diagnosed by a mechanic. Through online research, the contact discovered the federal safety agency campaign id number 02v288000 (electrical system:battery:cables) for the same symptoms he was experiencing in his vehicle. He had also been experiencing loss of power and hesitation in the vehicle while traveling at low speeds. He discovered the federal safety agency campaign id number 05v030000 (latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch). The manufacturer stated that his VIN was not included in either recall. The contact believes the vehicle should be included since he is experiencing identical failures. The current and failure mileages were 73,450.

Filed Jul 31, 2008 · Engine, Fuel system · NC

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford focus. The vehicle would hesitate driving at any speed. There are times where the engine will rev and it will raise 2 or 4 rpms but the speed of the vehicle will remain the same. She took the vehicle into a shop and was told that there was a problem in the fuel line and that it needed to be repaired. But she decided to check for recalls before making repairs. She went online and founds recalls for her year make and model. She found a recall that explained her exact problems she called the dealership and was told that the recall did not affect her VIN. She believes that her VIN should be included in the recall. The current and failure mileages were unavailable. Updated 09/10/08 *bf the consumer stated the vehicle hesitates and shuts off. Updated 09/11/08

Filed Jul 8, 2008 · Visibility · 72,000 miles · WI

After two days of rain my passenger side of my 2000 ford focus filled up with water. Then when I went to turn on the air conditioning water came pouring out of the floor vents. I always hesitate to take it into a dealership so I used the internet to search for similar complaints. After looking around I found around 25 complaints just on one website http://www.carsurvey.org/viewmorecomments_review_8122_2.html . On this site many people referred to the pollen filter where there was not a tight seal or some type of defective part that would cause water to enter into the vent system of the car then fill the passenger side of the interior. This sounds like a huge problem and I would appreciate it if you would look into it.

Filed Apr 12, 2007 · Fuel system · 138,000 miles · KS

(1) hesitation, lack of power, and finally unable to obtain driving speeds. (2) failure to obtain and maintain driving speeds. (3) called ford and asked about replacement of fuel delivery module pursuant to ford recall campaign #03n01, the federal safety agency recall campaign id # 03v482000. Was told that this specific car was not affected ,and would not be repaired.

Filed Nov 8, 2006 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 80,000 miles · OH

Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency recall # 03v482000, for the fuel system: gasoline due to the VIN, when the manufacturer was notified, although the vehicle had the same problems as described in the recall. The contact stated while traveling 55 MPH, the engine hesitated when the accelerator was depressed, making a chugging or coughing sound before the engine reacted and accelerated.